Paid Sick Leave

The Healthy Families Act

The Feminist Majority has worked for passage of the Healthy Families Act (S.984; H.R.1976) which would require employers of 15 or more individuals engaged in interstate commerce to provide for employees the ability to earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked up to a maximum of seven paid sick days each year. Millions of workers who currently have to take leave without pay for personal and family health needs would be able to use paid leave for personal medical needs as well as for family medical needs such as a child’s illness or medical appointment. The Feminist Majority also worked for a provision that was included in the bill that allows this leave to be used for activities related to domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking enabling survivors to seek counseling or other assistance or go to court without losing pay. The Feminist Majority advocated for an increase from seven to 10 days of leave in the bill but this is an important first step.
It is appalling that some 50% of women workers in the U.S. and three-fourths of low wage earners do not currently have even one day of paid sick leave.
Unfortunately, this bill which, was introduced in both Houses of Congress in May 2011, is languishing in committees with no hope of moving in this Congress.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), the chief sponsor of the Health Families Act, included the Healthy Families Act in the Rebuild America Act (S.2252), which he introduced in March of this year, but it, too, has not moved.

Action

No Action at the present time.
Note: An Act is called a bill before it is approved by Congress and signed into law by the President